01st May 2010

From Cochabamba our bus struggled up towards La Paz, reaching the Altiplano at over 4400 metres, passing lone farms where people were cutting wheat by hand and small pueblos where busy markets were in progress.

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The first sighting of La Paz city (3660 metres) spilling down both sides of a steep canyon and surrounded by snow capped peaks is always breathtaking (the altitude is breathtaking as well). Once in the city there is hustle and bustle everywhere. Everything is for sale in the streets even dried llama fetuses.

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The Aymara women (from around Lake Titicaca) wear bowler hats, brightly coloured full skirts and intricate shawls (mantas). Years ago, a local English businessman received a shipment of mens bowler hats by mistake. He managed to convince the Bolivian women to wear them and the new fashion took off.

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The shoe shine men hide their identity behind ski masks and baseball caps to avoid social stigma.

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Not far from La Paz are the ruins of Tiwanaku, a pre Inca ceremonial centre, and the most important archaeological site in Bolivia. It is slowly being excavated and partly restored.

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La Paz

Iglesia San Francisco

The back of Iglesia San Francisco

Our bedroom in Hostal Estrella Andina

The old centre

La Paz Cathedral

The original Spanish area

Witchcraft stall

Shoe shiners

Typical Aymara dress

The Cholas wear beautiful skirts and shawls

Partly reconstructed Akapana Pyramid at Tiwanaku

Stone monument (different colours from being half buried)

The sun gate with calendar across the top

The sun represents the month of September

Different rocks were used for the east and north walls

The sun shines through here at dawn on the 21st June

One of the carved heads in the wall of the subterranian temple (note wad of coca leaves in one cheek)